Tau Vitoria – does anybody like this team this year? I am not even sure if the Spanish people are going to cheer for that team this year. Well – at least we found a very our expert in Maku, who provides us with his insight view of Tau Ceramica:
Euroleague Basketball Definition: Competition which starts with 24 teams and ends in May in a Final Four with CSKA, TAU, Maccabi and some 4th team.
Indeed, ain’t it? Recurring dream? Don’t you have the feeling of having seen lately? In fact, these three teams have coped 65% of the F4 presences in the last 5 years, which may be quite disappointing for the other 21 teams who try to get to such stage as it leaves only one free spot. From this point of view, I only can bow down before Mens Sana Siena and congratulate them for their great season.
Talking about TAU Ceramica, victory against Partizan was followed by a defeat in Vitoria against Barcelona, which unleashed the “McDonald affair”, where the player was sidelined for his public criticising of coach Spahija. Surprising behaviour from a player that has not shown the level expected to his salary, that moreover has received much support from the coach, being often on the starting five, and who still plays 17 minutes, having a top player as Splitter sharing his court position.
The fact of being in a period when no roster changes are allowed, has made that the player was not fired immediately, it would not have reached the level of a Efes-like suicide, but his presence is necessary, as all players will be needed in Madrid.
In Vitoria, they were not used to appear so often in media for non-sportive causes. Too often for a club praised for its management. The general feeling is that Baskonia a.S (after Scola) is the worst team -referring to TEAM as group, not as on-court talent- that gathered in Vitoria in the last years, moreover when in many matches a lack of attitude was obvious. Too many black points outside and inside the court, but yet again they qualified Madrid for their 4-in-a-row F4 streak with 4 different coaches (Ivanovic, Perasovic, Maljkovic and now Spahija). So why can’t they stand a chance?
Talking just about sporting matters, TAU has three ACB games before travelling to Madrid: Grupo Capitol Valladolid, Pamesa Valencia (fighting for 4th spot in Spanish league), and Cajasol Sevilla, in which the team needs to get back to the high quality level shown at some games of the season. Splitter and Prigioni should make a step forward and lead the high talented locker room to stop becoming Basketball’s Poulidor.
About TAU’s chances in semifinal against feared CSKA, I share and recommend the great analysis published by Bob Pirolo (get here its Google translation from spanish to english – but accept it with reserves, you know that none is very accurate)
I tried to show an objective point of view in the article, don’t expect it here in a prediction! Just a will: Baskonia’s win (though it may be by narrow score), to face Siena in the final to reach long expected trophy.
No matter what happens, just enjoy the game! We feel Devotion! 🙂
